J.D. Barker

The streaming revolution promised a golden age of content — unlimited choice for viewers and boundless creative opportunities for filmmakers and writers. But beneath the glossy exterior of this new entertainment paradigm, Hollywood is experiencing seismic shifts that threaten its very foundation. What began as an exciting new frontier has evolved into something more complex and potentially dangerous for the industry’s creative workforce. More…

I remember when I first decided to become an author. I had no idea I was diving into an ocean where 3 million new titles appear annually. As someone who’s managed to stay afloat and even ride some impressive waves in this business, I’ve learned that breaking through requires more than just talent — it demands a strategic combination of craft, savvy and the kind of persistence that borders on obsession. More…

The bestselling thriller that kept you up all night might have begun with a three-line news item buried on page seven. The novel dominating airport bookstores could have sparked from an overheard conversation at a coffee shop. In the cutthroat world of thriller writing, the most spine-tingling narratives often spring not from grand imagination but from the mundane reality we scroll past every day. More…

A fierce debate rages in the literary world, dividing authors into two distinct camps: plotters who meticulously outline every story beat, and “pantsers” or “discovery writers” who write by the seat of their pants. This fundamental split in creative approach has spawned endless discussions about which method produces better fiction. More…